Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Norvel Preston Clotfelter Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1914-1918
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Company A, 344th Machine Gun Battalion, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces; Company L, 357th Infantry Regiment
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/2386
In 1917, Norvel Preston Clotfelter's life was upended when he was drafted into the Army. But one thing did not change - he had been keeping a diary since 1912, a habit he would maintain for 37 years, and the 17 months he spent in the Army were no exception. Clotfelter noted his unit's movements, the weather, commented on the food and briefly described his duties. As he served with the 357th Infantry Regiment, he suffered dysentery, fever, lack of food and clean water and was eventually hospitalized with the Spanish Flu. As he recuperated, rumors of an armistice spread, and on November 11, 1918, he and his fellow patients listened as heavy artillery barrages ceased at exactly 11am.
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About this Item
Title
- Norvel Preston Clotfelter Collection
Names
- Camenisch, Ruth Clotfelter
- Clotfelter, Norvel Preston
Home State
- Missouri
Headings
- - Clotfelter, Norvel Preston
- - World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Race
- White
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1914-1918
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: Company A, 344th Machine Gun Battalion, 90th Division, American Expeditionary Forces; Company L, 357th Infantry Regiment
- Location of Service:
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Dates of Service: 1917-1919
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Diaries and journals [1 item] -- Handwritten document (collected 1918-1919)
- Manuscript: Diaries and journals [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 1918-1919)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [1 item] -- Handwritten document (collected 1920-03-08)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [6 items] -- Photograph (collected 1917-1960)
- Photograph: Copy photographic print [10 items] -- Photograph (collected 1917-1919)
- Photograph: Negatives [10 items] -- Photograph (collected 1917-1919)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [4 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1918-1919)
- Manuscript: Diaries and journals [3 items] -- Transcription of document (collected 1917-1919)
- Photograph: Mixed (Multiple types of photographs) [8 items] -- Photograph (collected 1917-1918)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/2386
Cite as
- Norvel Preston Clotfelter Collection (AFC/2001/001/2386), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
Additional Metadata Formats
IIIF Presentation Manifest
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
Battles & Campaigns
Service Unit
- 344th Machine Gun Battalion
- 357th Infantry Regiment
- 90th Division
- American Expeditionary Forces
- Company a
- Company L